Mastering the Canvas: Understanding Split Level Architecture & Color
Split level homes, popular from the 1950s through the 1970s, are characterized by their multiple short staircases and distinct levels. Typically, you enter onto a landing with stairs going up to the main living area (living room, dining, kitchen) and bedrooms, and stairs going down to a family room, laundry area, or garage. This inherent structure means the home has different vertical planes and often varied rooflines. This complexity is why selecting exterior house colors for split level homes demands careful consideration.
The challenge lies in ensuring the different levels and sections of the house don’t look disjointed. A well-chosen color scheme can unify the design, highlight desirable features, and minimize awkward transitions. The goal is often to create a cohesive look despite the staggered levels, making the house feel intentional and aesthetically pleasing from the street. Getting the exterior house colors for split level homes right is key to achieving maximum visual impact.
Deciding on Your Shade: Factors Influencing Exterior Color Choices
Selecting the right color scheme for any home is a multi-faceted process, and for split levels, these factors become even more critical. You’re not just painting a box; you’re layering color onto distinct architectural elements. Careful planning ensures your chosen exterior house colors for split level homes truly enhance the structure.
Considering Your Home’s Architecture and Era
Split levels often have design roots in the Mid-Century Modern or Post-War styles. Do you want to honor that heritage with colors popular during that time, or modernize the look? The materials used on your home – brick, stone, wood siding, vinyl siding – also dictate color choices. Some materials have fixed colors (like brick or stone), while others offer flexibility. Your chosen exterior house colors for split level homes should complement any existing materials.
Harmonizing with the Surroundings
Look at your home’s environment. Is it nestled among trees? Does it have a large, open lawn? What colors are prevalent in your landscaping? Consider the climate – does gray skies dominate, or is it sunny most of the year? Your neighbors’ homes also play a role; you likely don’t want to clash dramatically, but finding a distinct yet complementary palette is often desirable. The best exterior house colors for split level homes feel like they belong right where they are.
Reflecting Your Personal Style and Goals
Ultimately, your home’s exterior is a reflection of you. Do you prefer a classic, understated look? Are you drawn to bold, modern statements? Do you want your home to blend into the background or stand out? Consider what feeling you want your home to evoke. Your desired feel will guide the selection of exterior house colors for split level homes. Are you aiming for cozy, sophisticated, playful, or minimalist?
Popular Palettes and Combos for Split Level Homes
Now, let’s explore some popular and effective color strategies specifically tailored for selecting exterior house colors for split level homes. These palettes offer proven ways to approach the unique challenges and opportunities this architectural style presents.
The Enduring Appeal of Neutral Classics
Neutral colors are a safe, timeless, and versatile choice for any home style, including split levels. Grays, whites, beiges, and ‘greiges’ (a mix of gray and beige) provide a sophisticated backdrop that works well with various landscaping styles and neighborhood aesthetics. They are excellent exterior house colors for split level homes if you seek longevity and broad appeal.
Choosing a neutral base color allows you to easily change the look of your home over time by simply updating accent colors on the front door or shutters. Neutrals also tend to make a home look clean and well-maintained. The variations within neutrals (warm versus cool tones) offer subtle but significant differences in feel. Warm neutrals feel inviting, while cool neutrals can lend a more contemporary edge.
Making a Statement with Bold and Modern Hues
For homeowners looking to break away from the traditional, bold and modern colors offer an exciting alternative. Deep charcoals, rich navies, forest greens, or even striking blacks can give a split level a contemporary facelift. These daring exterior house colors for split level homes can dramatically transform a dated facade into a stylish statement.
When using bold colors, it’s often best to balance them with lighter or contrasting trim and accent colors. A deep navy body color paired with crisp white trim and a vibrant red door, for example, creates a dynamic and modern look. Bold colors can also help to visually anchor the house, giving it a strong presence.
Embracing Nature with Earth Tones
If your split level is situated in a setting with abundant trees or natural landscapes, earth tones are an excellent choice. Shades of brown, green, rust, and warm gray help the house blend harmoniously with its environment. These nature-inspired exterior house colors for split level homes create a sense of warmth, comfort, and connection to the outdoors.
Earth tones can range from deep, grounding browns to lighter, airy greens. Combining multiple earth tones on different levels or architectural features can add depth and interest without being overwhelming. For instance, a woodsy green on the main body with a warm brown on the lower level and cream trim can look incredibly inviting.
Specific Neutral Combinations to Consider
- Classic Gray & White: A medium to light gray body color paired with crisp white trim around windows, doors, and eaves is a timeless look. A darker gray or black front door adds a touch of sophistication. This scheme works well on many split levels, providing definition.
- Soft Beige & Cream: A warm, soft beige siding with cream or off-white trim creates a welcoming, gentle look. This palette feels light and airy, good for bringing warmth to a cloudy climate or highlighting landscaping. A deep brown or forest green door can provide an anchor.
- Greige & Charcoal: Greige offers the best of both worlds. Use a light greige on the main body, deeper charcoal on the lower level or garage door, and white or cream trim. This provides a modern yet soft feel.
Specific Bold Combinations to Explore
- Deep Navy & White: Painting the main body of the house a deep, rich navy blue with bright white trim defines the lines beautifully. A pop of color on the door, like yellow, orange, or red, provides a vibrant focal point. This strategy is quite popular for modernizing split levels.
- Charcoal & Wood Accents: A dark charcoal gray body color paired with natural wood elements (like cedar siding on an accent wall, garage door, or porch beams) creates a sophisticated, modern look. Black trim can enhance the drama, while white trim provides contrast.
- Forest Green & Tan: A deep, organic green on the main siding with a warm tan or light brown on the lower level or as an accent color. Cream or off-white trim keeps it from feeling too dark. This combo is perfect for natural settings and makes the house feel grounded.
Strategic Application: Tips and Tricks for Painting Split Levels
Beyond choosing the colors themselves, how you apply the exterior house colors for split level homes is critical. The unique structure of a split level requires a thoughtful approach to color placement to maximize visual appeal and harmony.
Highlighting Architectural Features with Color Blocking
One of the most effective ways to paint a split level is using color blocking to define or connect the different levels. You could use a darker color on the lower level to ground the house, and a lighter color on the upper level to draw the eye upwards. Alternatively, you might use the same color on the main body but a different, contrasting color on the garage level or an entryway bump-out to make it stand out. Strategic use of exterior house colors for split level homes can emphasize the home’s distinct forms.
Consider using color to highlight specific features, such as:
- The main entrance area
- A dominant gable or section of roofing
- The garage door (make it blend in or stand out?)
- A unique window arrangement
Thinking of your split level as distinct, stackable boxes can help you decide where to apply different colors to create the desired visual effect. The interplay of exterior house colors for split level homes across the different masses is what gives the house personality.
The Power of Trim and Accent Colors
Trim and accent colors are incredibly important on a split level. Trim (around windows, doors, roofline, corners) defines the edges and helps to separate the different planes and levels. A contrasting trim color can make the main body color pop and give the house a clean, finished look. For exterior house colors for split level homes, trim is the outline that brings the picture together.
Accent colors are used on smaller, specific elements like the front door, shutters, or even porch furniture. The front door is a prime candidate for a bold accent color, as it serves as a welcoming focal point. Choosing the right trim and accent colors is just as important as selecting the main body color when planning your exterior house colors for split level homes.
Don’t Skip the Swatch: Testing Colors on Your Home
Color samples are non-negotiable. Paint large swatches (at least 1×1 foot) of your potential exterior house colors for split level homes on different sections of your house. Observe them at various times of day and in different weather conditions. Colors look dramatically different in bright sunlight versus shade, or on a sunny day versus a cloudy one.
Seeing the color on your house, next to your existing materials (like brick or stone) and surrounded by your landscaping, is the only way to truly know how it will look. This step helps avoid costly mistakes and ensures you love the final result of your chosen exterior house colors for split level homes.
Understanding Undertones
Pay attention to the undertones of the colors you sample. A gray might have blue or purple undertones that become more prominent in certain lights. A beige might lean pink or green. These subtle undertones can greatly affect how the color feels and how it coordinates with other elements and with your landscaping.
Considering the Roof Color
Your roof color is a major factor that cannot be changed easily. Ensure your chosen exterior house colors for split level homes harmonize with the color of your roof shingles. Cool grays work well with black or gray roofs, while warmer tones like beige or brown complement brown or tan roofs.
Conclusion
Choosing the right exterior house colors for split level homes is a transformative project that can significantly boost curb appeal and revitalize your property. By understanding the unique architectural features of your split level, considering the surrounding environment, and reflecting your personal style, you can select a color scheme that makes your home look its absolute best.
Whether you lean towards classic neutrals, bold modern hues, or natural earth tones, strategic application through color blocking, effective use of trim, and thoughtful accent choices will bring your vision to life. Don’t forget the crucial step of testing your colors on site. Investing time and thought into your exterior house colors for split level homes will result in a stunning facade you’ll be proud of for years to come. Embark on this exciting project and unlock the full potential of your split level home!